U-Serve 2019
#LibertyCityUnveiled

Each year U-SoA students, faculty and staff come together to offer their skills and abilities in service towards a single, community based project, U-Serve.

This year, for the 5th Annual U-Serve, University of Miami School of Architecture will partner with African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC) for a creative placemaking project in Liberty City. U-SoA Professors Germane Barnes and Xavier Cortada will facilitate a collaborative intervention that pairs University of Miami architecture students and Miami-Dade County Public School students to produce an installation highlighting the narratives of Liberty City residents through a market bazaar-like event in the AHCAC, located at 6161 NW 22nd Avenue, Miami, FL. (This year’s U-Serve event will take place over several days, versus previous years’ one-day only events.)

On March 18th, 2019, Turner Technical Arts High School students participated in a one-day design charrette at the School of Architecture, Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building at the University of Miami's main campus in Coral Gables. They learned about the AHCAC from Director Marshall Davis, and then shared their experiences with U-SoA architecture students, by creating designs for the work.

During a second, more elaborative, community service event planned for April 5, 2019, University of Miami School of Architecture students, faculty, staff and North Western High School Students will visit AHCAC to create the installation. Through the use of carefully designed fabrics, collaborators will expose the greater Miami community to the contributions of Liberty City residents.

All participants will be recognized the following day, April 6, 2019, when the work will be inaugurated as part of the organization’s annual Jazz Festival. It will serve as a reoccurring pop-up market bazaar where local vendors will utilize the structures built by the University of Miami students, faculty and staff.

This collaboration is in connection with the “Liberty City Unveiled” placemaking installation at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center and their efforts will “help amplify their voices through a creative process that unveils the cultural riches of Liberty City and helps build community in their neighborhood”.

U-Serve 2019 is grateful to our numerous partners and collaborators; African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC), residents of Liberty City, Liberty Square, our numerous participating students and faculty, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) to include William H. Turner Technical Arts High School and North Western High School. Special thank you to this year's sponsor, Stantec.